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Mega Millions Makes History with $540 Million Jackpot

CLEVELAND -- The Mega Millions jackpot has reached historic proportions and continues to grow. Now an estimated $540 million, it’s rolled 18 times since Jan. 27, the date the drawing sequence started.

If one ticket matches all six numbers for the half-billion dollar mega-jackpot, the winner would have the choice of receiving the full jackpot in 26 annual payments of about $20.8 million, or a cash option of approximately $389.8 million before 31 percent federal and state tax withholdings.

“Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing will be an historic and spectacular event in lottery history, and we are excited that our players have the chance to play for a half a billion dollars. We would love to see an Ohioan hit this world record jackpot,” says Dennis Berg, Ohio Lottery Director.

Since this jackpot run, starting Jan. 27, Ohio has sold nine winning tickets to customers matching five-of-five numbers without the mega ball, earning the $250,000 prize -- just one number off the jackpot win.

Mega Millions is played in 42 states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Players can make their purchased until 10:45 p.m. today for tonight’s drawing. Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately one in 176 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are approximately 1 in 40.